All six summer word lists
Read a list before you print to pick the puzzle that suits your child. Each puzzle has its own words — none repeats within a level.
Starter: 8 words · 10 × 10 grid · Across → and down ↓
Starter Puzzle 1
- Sun
- Beach
- Pool
- Swim
- Hat
- Sand
- Kite
- Camp
Starter Puzzle 2
- Hot
- Lemon
- Fan
- Park
- Bike
- Tent
- Shade
- Boat
Starter Puzzle 3
- Bee
- Bug
- Wave
- Shell
- Towel
- Picnic
- Grass
- Melon
Explorer: 12 words · 12 × 12 grid · Across →, down ↓ and diagonal ↘
Explorer Puzzle 1
- Sunscreen
- Popsicle
- Lemonade
- Sandals
- Sprinkler
- Vacation
- Swimsuit
- Barbecue
- Umbrella
- Seashell
- Sunshine
- Beach Ball
Explorer Puzzle 2
- Camping
- Campfire
- Hiking
- Backpack
- Compass
- Canoe
- Firefly
- Mosquito
- Cabin
- Trail
- Lake
- Fishing
Explorer Puzzle 3
- Butterfly
- Dragonfly
- Sunflower
- Garden
- Blueberry
- Peach
- Cherry
- Ice Cream
- Surfboard
- Snorkel
- Paddle
- Postcard
Which level fits your child?
Both levels suit children aged about 6 to 9, but reading confidence matters more than age. A child who is still sounding out words will enjoy Starter; a child who reads short chapter books is usually ready for Explorer. As a rough guide, Starter suits many 1st and 2nd graders and Explorer many 2nd and 3rd graders. Neither level hides words backward.
Starter · 8 words · 10 × 10
Short, familiar summer words of 3–6 letters, like “Beach”. Words only run across and down, so children can scan one row or column at a time.
Explorer · 12 words · 12 × 12
Longer words of up to 9 letters, like “Campfire”, in a bigger grid. Words also run diagonally, which asks for more careful looking.
Not sure?
Start with Starter. Finishing a puzzle feels better than giving up halfway, and you can print an Explorer puzzle next time.
Talk about summer
Summer words come in groups — the beach, the campsite, the garden. Sorting them is a good way to talk about the puzzle once it is done.
Beach day
Towel, Sunscreen, Umbrella, Swimsuit, Sandals and Beach Ball are all hidden in the puzzles. What else would your child bring?
At the campsite
Tent, Campfire, Backpack, Compass, Canoe and Trail are camping words. Firefly and Mosquito are two small visitors you might meet at night.
Cool treats
Lemonade, Popsicle and Ice Cream are in Explorer. In Starter, Melon and Lemon use the same five letters in a different order. Peach, Cherry and Blueberry are summer fruit.
In the garden
Butterfly, Dragonfly and Sunflower are long words made of two shorter ones. Can your child find the two parts in each?
Ways to use these summer word searches
On vacation
One page, one pencil, no screen — an easy activity in the car or on a plane. Vacation and Postcard are hiding in the Explorer puzzles too.
A quiet break on a hot day
When it is too hot to play outside, a Starter puzzle with Sun, Pool and Swim is a calm break indoors.
Over summer break
A puzzle a week is a light way to keep some spelling practice going between school years.
Printing tips
- Choose US Letter in the United States and Canada, and A4 almost everywhere else. The layout is made separately for each, so nothing is cut off.
- Print at actual size (100%) rather than “fit to page” to keep the letters large and evenly spaced.
- Everything is black and white. Draft or ink-saving mode still leaves the grid easy to read.
- The answer key circles each hidden letter, so it works on a black-and-white printer too.
- Each page carries a small puzzle ID, such as MWS-1594VM4, printed on both the puzzle and its answer key so the pair is easy to match.
Frequently asked questions
Which summer word search is best for beginners?
Starter Puzzle 1: Sun, Beach, Pool, Swim, Hat, Sand, Kite and Camp, hidden across and down in a 10 × 10 grid.
Are these only beach words?
No. The Starter puzzles also have park and backyard words like Bike, Picnic and Grass. In Explorer, Puzzle 1 is mostly beach and backyard words, from Sunscreen to Sprinkler; Puzzle 2 is about camping, with Hiking, Canoe and Lake; and Puzzle 3 mixes the garden and summer fruit with a few water words like Snorkel and Surfboard.
How do two-word entries like Ice Cream work?
The word list keeps the normal spelling. In the grid, the space is removed, so children look for ICECREAM as one run of letters.
Can I change the words in the summer word search?
Yes. Choose “Customize this word search” below the download buttons, or open the word search generator with the summer words already filled in. Swap, add or remove words, then download your own puzzle and answer key.
Are these printables free?
Yes. All six puzzles and their answer keys are free PDFs, with no account or email needed.